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Warm Shelf, Daejeon-Chungcheong/Seoul and Gyeonggi/Gangwon Beauty, Bars, Cafes and Restaurants

Writes about cafes, bars, beauty spots and restaurants across Daejeon-Chungcheong, Seoul, Gyeonggi and Gangwon. · Writes about: Restaurants · Bars · Cafés · Things to do · Hair & beauty salons

PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Sinnonhyeon pasta & steak spot, weekend dinner wait, Bri Set: Brivit

Brivit Gangnam Station is a pasta and steak restaurant on Gangnam-daero 102-gil near Sinnonhyeon Station Exit 6 in Seoul, the second branch after the original in Seongsu. After a weekend dinner wait, the writer shared the Bri Set for two (Brivit steak, green onion cream corn gnocchi, spicy fried eggplant and a drink, ₩67,700), and the crispy eggplant, chewy gnocchi and tender steak with cheese poured tableside by staff were all satisfying. Brivit Gangnam Station is worth recommending for lunch or dinner near Gangnam Station when you want both atmosphere and good food.

Written Jun 8, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGunpo, GyeonggiRestaurants

Sanbon Korean BBQ: spicy shabu set plus 200g aged pork neck, Geobugi

Geobugi Dongne Gunpo Sanbon Branch (거북이동네 군포산본점) is a newly opened Korean BBQ restaurant in Gunpo, Gyeonggi, serving grilled pork alongside shabu-shabu on the 2nd floor of a building near Sanbon Station Exit 3. The writer ordered the shabu-shabu & pork belly set (41,500 won) with spicy broth, grilled the thick-cut pork belly, added 200g of aged pork neck (10,980 won), and finished with kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) and soft-serve ice cream. Both the meat quality and the shabu-shabu beat expectations, making Geobugi Dongne a great-value Sanbon BBQ spot well worth a return visit.

Written Jun 13, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

Hongdae ochazuke spot: spoon-tender pork belly for two at Ochaya

Ochaya Yeonnam is a Japanese home-style ochazuke restaurant on the 2nd floor of a commercial building in Mapo, Seoul, about an 8-minute walk from Hongik Univ. Station Exit 3. On a weekday around 1:30 pm, the writer walked into Ochaya Yeonnam with no wait and ordered two bowls of butanokakuni (braised pork belly) ochazuke for 28,000 won. The pork belly was soft enough to mash with a spoon, and refillable mixed-grain rice, seaweed and broth made it a filling meal. For an easy-on-the-stomach lunch in Hongdae, the butanokakuni at Ochaya Yeonnam is a good choice.

Written Jul 2, 2026Sponsored
PlaceMapo, SeoulRestaurants

American pizza in Hongdae, Seoul: Monde Set with Zero Cola at

Raymond's Hongdae is an American-style slice pizza and beer pub near Exit 8 of Hongik Univ. Station in Mapo, Seoul. On a weekday evening the writer walked in with no wait and ordered the Monde Set (₩51,900: 4 pizza slices, boneless fried chicken and truffle fries) with a Zero Cola instead of beer; the red pepper seasoning and truffle fries were the highlights. The Raymond's Hongdae sets suit 2–3 people who want to share big slices in several flavors.

Written Jul 5, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSongpa, SeoulCafés

Rainy-day food truck dinner at Jamsil Stadium block 311: Bingdongdaeng

Bingdongdaeng Premium Bingsu Café is a bingsu (Korean shaved ice) food truck near Outfield Ticket Booth 1 at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Songpa, Seoul, just off Exit 5 of Sports Complex Station. On an on-and-off rainy game day, the writer picked up a bacon corn mayo hot dog (10,900 won) from Ippeun Yeou Hot Dog, cream shrimp (15,000 won) from Station and mango bingsu (15,500 won) from Bingdongdaeng, then ate them as dinner under the roof in the first-base Navy section, block 311. Verdict: all three Jamsil Stadium food truck portions were big enough to share between two or three people.

Written Jul 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceGangnam, SeoulRestaurants

Sinnonhyeon gyukatsu revisit: free review tempura, flame swap, Ichigyu

Ichigyu Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Branch is a gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlet) restaurant on the 2nd floor of a commercial building near Exit 4 of Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam, Seoul. On a return visit, the writer ordered Set 3 (striploin + striploin) and karaage & shrimp tempura, and when the air conditioning weakened the grill flame, staff replaced it right away so the beef stayed delicious to the last bite. Verdict: if you want gyukatsu around Gangnam Station, Ichigyu Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Branch is satisfying enough to come back to.

Written Jul 11, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYongin, GyeonggiRestaurants

Suji-gu Office seafood stew restaurant, family dinner for three: Nojak

Nojak Jinseong Agu-jjim Yongin Suji District Office Branch is a newly opened monkfish and seafood stew restaurant near Exit 4 of Suji-gu Office Station in Yongin, Gyeonggi. On a weekend family outing, a medium haemul-jjim (spicy braised seafood) at spice level 1 for ₩52,000 was plenty for three people. The shrimp, squid, octopus and baby octopus were tender, and the free opening-event fried rice was a satisfying finish. Nojak Jinseong Agu-jjim is worth a return visit for a hearty family seafood stew near Suji-gu Office.

Written Jul 19, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeongnam, GyeonggiRestaurants

Seohyeon AK Plaza rib stew spot: mild pork seaweed wraps, Gimcheongja

Gimcheongja Maeun Galbijjim Seohyeon Station Branch (김청자매운갈비찜 서현역점) is a spicy braised rib (galbijjim) Korean restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building near Exit 4 of Seohyeon Station in Bundang, Seongnam, Gyeonggi. The writer ordered mild spicy pork galbijjim for two (16,000 won per portion) with steamed egg and rice, refilled the kimchi, pink sausage, seaweed, perilla leaf and bean sprout side dishes, and wrapped the meat in dried seaweed. Even the mild level at Gimcheongja Maeun Galbijjim was pleasantly spicy and the pork was meltingly tender, making it a place worth revisiting.

Written Jul 17, 2026Sponsored
PlaceSeodaemun, SeoulHair & beauty salons

Ewha hair salon same-day layered cut before a trip abroad: Eco Revy

Eco Revy Hair Ewha Branch (에코레비헤어 이대점) is a hair salon specializing in head spa and scalp clinic care, near Exits 3 and 4 of Ewha Womans Univ. Station in Seodaemun, Seoul. Before going abroad, the writer booked the same day on Naver and got a scalp check, a cooling shampoo, a layered cut and a side-bang blow-dry in just under 1 hour, leaving dry, tangled ends much smoother. Eco Revy Hair Ewha Branch is a good pick near Ewha Womans Univ. Station when damaged long hair needs a quick tidy-up.

Written Jul 14, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongjak, SeoulBars

Sadang Korean pub for group nights and ricotta makgeolli: Wonang

Wonang Sadang Main Branch (워낭 사당본점) is a Korean pub in the Sadang food alley near Exit 10 of Sadang Station in Dongjak, Seoul. The writer booked a group night through Naver and ordered Hanu beef tartare, a corn cheese bomb kimchi pancake, beef belly kimchi nabe (hot pot) and Wonang ricotta makgeolli (Korean rice wine), 90,900 won in total. Prices at Wonang Sadang Main Branch run a little high, but the dishes are real cooking, and the smooth ricotta makgeolli was the writer's best pick.

Written Jul 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceDongjak, SeoulBars

Sadang Station izakaya for a group second round: aged sashimi at Sansu

Sansu Sadang Main Branch is a seafood-focused izakaya (Japanese-style pub) near Exit 10 of Sadang Station in Dongjak, Seoul. After booking for a weekday evening, the writer came with a group for a second round, sat at a table and ordered the Badahansang aged sashimi platter (49,000 won) with Sansu Highballs and a Damsol Highball, then received a yellow peach ricotta cheese dessert through a receipt review event. Sansu Sadang Main Branch is on the pricey side, but its upscale atmosphere and quality food make it a good pick for a date or a relaxed second round of drinks.

Written Jul 24, 2026Sponsored
PlaceYesan, ChungnamRestaurants

Yesan Market boneless chicken stir-fry for 3–4 at ₩29,000: Sijang

Sijang Dakbokkeum is a chicken stir-fry restaurant inside Yesan Market in Yesan, Chungnam, that serves only one dish: shishito pepper chicken stir-fry (kkwarigochu dakbokkeum). The writer ordered the boneless version to go, with one extra portion of shishito peppers and one of quail eggs, for 29,000 won. The tray looked like 3–4 servings, with tender chicken and rice cakes, and the leftovers became fried rice the next day. Sijang Dakbokkeum is a satisfying Yesan Market pick that goes well with rice.

Written Jul 27, 2026Sponsored